Public-private partners aim to improve fire safety

September 09, 2014

The Akron Fire Department estimates that there are more than 5,000 homes in Akron without a single smoke detector. With the goal of reducing that number by 10 percent, Council approved legislation Monday evening that will allow the Fire Department,U.S. Department of Homeland Security and big-box retailer Lowe’s to install about 4,000 smoke alarms in 520 Akron homes. Funding for the program will come from a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant. The Akron Fire Department will provide fire safety inspections to identify homes that need smoke detectors and Lowe’s will donate man-hours for installation. Monday’s Council meeting was the first following its annual summer recess.